Mid-term Clinical and Radiological Results of Oxford Phase 3 Medial Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty

Therapeutic Effects Comparison and Revision Case Analysis of Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty and Open Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy in Treating Medial Knee Osteoarthritis in Patients Under 60 years: A 2-6-year Follow-up Study

Objective

To evaluate the therapeutic effects and revision cases of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) and open wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) in treating medial knee osteoarthritis (MKOA) in patients under 60 years.

Methods

The present retrospective study included a total of 192 patients who were diagnosed with MKOA and treated by UKA or OWHTO in the Second Affiliated hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University and Xi'an Honghui Hospital between December 2012 and December 2016. Among these patients, 83 were treated by UKA (17 men and 66 women, aged 53.7 ± 5.2 years) and 109 were treated by OWHTO (23 men and 86 women, aged 51.8 ± 6.9 years). Patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months for the first year postoperation, and every 6 months from the second year postoperation. Basic data, perioperative data, hospital for special surgery (HSS) score, visual analogue pain score (VAS), low‐impact recovery, and revision cases of the patients were evaluated.

Results

The average follow‐up periods of the UKA group and the OWHTO group were 39.3 ± 11.2 months and 40.2 ± 13.5 months, respectively. No significant difference was found in the basic data of the two groups (P ≥ 0.05). The operative time, incision length, and dominant blood loss of the UKA group was less than those of OWHTO group by 19.6%, 10.7%, and 35.1%, respectively, and the differences were significant (P < 0.05), while no significant difference was found in postoperative in‐bed time (P ≥ 0.05). The HSS scores of the UKA group at 1 and 3 months postoperation were higher than those of the OWHTO group by 5.1% and 3.9% (P < 0.05), while no differences were found from 6 months postoperation (P ≥ 0.05). The VAS score of the UKA group 1 month postoperation was lower than that of the OWHTO group by 12.2% (P < 0.05), while no differences were found from 3 months postoperation (P ≥ 0.05). One year after the operation, most patients in both groups could not achieve ideal recovery in low‐impact sports, and no significant differences were found (P < 0.05). The sport in which most patients could not achieve ideal recovery was mountain climbing. No revision cases occurred in the OWHTO group, while two revisions occurred in the UKA group.

Conclusion

Candidates for UKA should be chosen carefully and the current indications and contraindications raised by Goodfellow should be modified.

A novel radiographic technique to assess 180° rotational spin of the Oxford unicompartmental knee mobile bearing

INTRODUCTION

The recognition of anteromedial knee arthritis as a distinct early clinicopathological entity has led to a resurgence in medial unicompartment knee arthroplasty (UKA). Symptomatic knee pain caused by 180° rotational spin of the mobile bearing of the Oxford Knee is an unrecognized and therefore under-reported complication of UKA. Whilst the post-operative radiographic criteria for optimal positioning of UKA is well described in the available literature, this isn't the case for assessing antero-posterior (AP) orientation of the mobile-bearing.

METHODS

Following a literature review, we describe a novel radiographic technique that can consistently assess AP orientation, and as a result, diagnose 180° rotational spin of the mobile-bearing. This technique overcomes the radiological challenge of superimposition of the radiopaque markers with the lateral edge of the tibial tray.

RESULTS

The modified oblique view results in clear visualization of the metallic rod embedded in the polyethylene, away from the lateral edge of the tibial tray. An anteriorly viewed metallic rod would indicate a well oriented mobile bearing. However, if the metallic beads are visualized anteriorly without dislocation, the component would have spun 180°.

CONCLUSION

Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for 180° spin to have occurred in patients with posterior dislocation with or without spontaneous reduction. We recommend bearing exchange ± revision arthroplasty for symptomatic patients. The modified oblique view is now part of our immediate post-operative XR protocol and repeated for any patient who re-presents symptomatically at any stage following the index procedure.